La Casa De Las Madres

This nonprofit is unwavering in its mission to end domestic violence. They strongly emphasize education and prevention, and their education manager, Jana, is informative and knowledgeable. I attended their 40-hour training and really enjoyed their presenters, who were from several different agencies. La Casa is a leader in the field of supporting DV survivors, and I am pleased to see the positive changes within and externally in educating the community. Their Instagram page is awesome.

I've had the opportunity to work for La Casa for several years and be part of raising awareness for the wonderful and very much-needed services that are provided to survivors. La Casa operates 24 hours a day and did so through the pandemic, sheltering survivors and their children often in heartwrenching, high-lethality risk situations. Most staff are hardworking and passionate about the work being done.

A Lifeline for Survivors: La Casa De Las Madres
La Casa De Las Madres is a true hero in our community- an extraordinary organization doing vital work for survivors of domestic violence. Their impact on our community is immeasurable. From providing safe housing and critical resources to offering counseling, legal support, and educational programs, they empower survivors to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
What truly sets La Casa De Las Madres apart is their commitment to not just helping people survive, but to thrive. They focus on long-term healing by addressing the complex emotional, legal, and financial challenges survivors face. Whether through crisis intervention, support groups, or advocacy, every staff member treats victims with respect, compassion, and care.
La Casa De Las Madres creates a sanctuary where survivors find safety, belonging, and strength. They approach each individual with personalized services tailored to meet unique needs, ensuring that everyone receives the support they deserve.
I am continually inspired by the profound impact La Casa De Las Madres has on so many lives. If you or someone you know is in need, I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are truly changing lives and making the world a safer, more hopeful place for everyone.
Not all hero’s wear capes.

I truly appreciated my time at La Casa—the team consists of incredible individuals dedicated to making a real difference.

I volunteered with La Casa for their RedHOT event and it was a wonderful experience. The staff are very professional and kind, and treat their volunteers with the same respect they would give to any other coworker. The team dynamic is strong and enthusiastic and fun, even though we are supporting a serious and important cause. I believe the organization is on such a positive trajectory the past few years and I would encourage anyone to get involved, donate to their mission, and volunteer with their amazing team.

I have been an on-and-off volunteer at La Casa for over a decade and can honestly say the organization and culture shift is significant, in a good way. So many employees talk about how much they love working there and feel supported and heard. The shelter has never looked better. This is a good place doing great work for women and children who need support.

I have been employed by La Casa de Las Madres since September 2018.
Coming out of retirement from the corporate environment, I thought I would work for a couple of years then I would fully retire. After feeling so welcomed and supported at this organization, I have been here for 6 years now!!
During my time at La Casa, I have held the positions Administrative Assistant/Receptionist, Admin. Coordinator and most recently I became the Administrative Manager.
The result of my career growth at La Casa reflects the professional and personal support, recognition and treatment that I have received from Management and Staff. La Casa has recognized my interest and commitment to be a part of its team to carry out its mission which is to serve the Clients in the Bay Area and the community as a whole.
My main motivation is to come to work knowing that to my team at all levels my opinion counts for the benefit of the Team.
La Casa makes a great place to work for, because the work environment feels positive overall. Below are some highlights to name a few:
- The culture of open and effective communication which ensures that everyone has a chance to
share their opinions, ideas, constructive criticism, questions.
- Management is direct in approaching staff and is open to feedback.
- Executive Director operates with an open door policy. Makes time for everybody not just the
management and follows up with employees in areas that need her interaction.
- We’ve had two annual employee wellness that emphasized the need for self-care.

I really enjoy my time here!!

La Casa de Las Madres is an amazing organization that works around the clock to ensure survivors of domestic violence get the support they need. They offer an array of services, emergency shelter, and partner with fellow organizations in San Francisco. The staff members are glad to assist where they can to aid survivors.

I stayed at La Casa shelter with my two children four months ago. The food could've been better but outside of that I really appreciate what La Casa did for me. The staff were all patience and supportive of me during one of the most difficult times of my life and when I got turned away from other organizations that I will not name here. I still receive support from them at their main office even though I am not at their shelter anymore and the people at the main office are as helpful as the shelter. I will always be grateful fro this organization.

MASSIVE TURNOVER!

The pay is good, and the shelter is a gem, but that can’t make up for La Casa’s recent shift to a culture of meanness, gossiping, intimidation, and retaliation. There is NO expectation of privacy or confidentiality because the shelter director, formerly the drop-in center director, constantly gossips about staff members and clients.  She is new to the shelter, and yet she treats employees like they are incompetent. 

The clients and their children are lost in all of this dysfunction.  She disciplines the shelter residents' children, which is a terrible practice.  She doesn’t understand, and no one is supervising her, about the basic principles of the agency and working with clients who have been traumatized. Just make it up as you go.

So many opportunities are available at other local nonprofits that value and invest in their volunteers and staff

I have been a volunteer with La Casa for a couple of years now and can truly say that they do amazing, meaningful work to help survivors of intimate partner violence. Everyone involved is committed to helping survivors and their children, which is very inspiring. I am a survivor myself and wish I had known about La Casa when I was escaping my abusive partner. I will continue to volunteer and hope to make an impact in the community the way La Casa staff are doing every day.

Hello,
My experience with La Casa De Las Madres has been minimal. My call was answered rapidly, and the counselor was wonderful; putting me immediately at ease. I was hesitant to talk about my troubles, because in the past, I haven't been taken seriously. I wasn't "physically" battered. That first call was productive even though I had trouble explaining my reason for calling. I came away with resources that led to more resources and I intend to sign up for group support at La Casa De Las Madres. I do believe in peer support. I think that it's safer talking with persons who have experienced similar situations rather than trying to explain devastation from mental bruising. One thing that I've learned during my domestic violence journey is that psychological damage is not understood by most. I hope to advocate for the education, support, and treatment for the trauma caused by psychological violence. I wish to be among those who attempt to bring the destruction, harm, and ruin it actually does cause to the forefront, in our society.

La Casa was there for me in my darkest hour. The staff is kind, professional, knowledgeable, and most of all, deeply caring. Now, I am working with them as a volunteer to be able to support others in their most challenging times as well. I cannot speak highly enough of this organization and the good work they do. Thank you, La Casa!

Face forward is my first experience with a non-profit organization and to say the least my whole experience was breathtaking. Mandi guided me every step of the way through the process and made me feel comfortable ,just like family . Dr. Alessi is professional and knowledgeable and has given me a opportunity that I don’t believe anyone else could have . They truly love what they do and it shows !!!! Thank you face forward. !

I have volunteered at La Casa's shelter for four years and have been impressed with its leadership and its efficacy in helping domestic violence victims. They provide compassionate services and help educate the community in the fight against domestic violence. I'm proud to be volunteering for La Casa and have learned a lot about helping victims and about lobbying for our cause.

They are always thinking of fun and creative activities for the kids at la casa! Im so thankful to be a part of this community!

One of the best training programs for volunteers - they really dive deep and try to get us to understand all the intersecting factors/issues that play into DV and how we can help address each of those or at least pass on relevant resources.

La Casa is an amazing resource to survivors of domestic violence in the San Francisco Bay Area. They work around the clock to provide resources to survivors including a 24/7 crisis line, shelter, counseling, and more!

La Casa De Las Madres is a fantastic local non-profit that adequately serves survivors of domestic violence! I have had the wonderful pleasure of volunteering for them for almost two years - many thanks to them, I have had many opportunities to learn more and continuously serve my community. Everyone that I have connected with at La Casa has always been very welcoming and I deeply appreciate the hard work they do. They go above and beyond for the folks they serve on a daily basis, and they always put their community first in their line of work. I am absolutely proud to volunteer for and be a part of the work that is conducted by La Casa De Las Madres!

La Casa is a great non-profit that provides critical services to survivors in the San Francisco community and beyond. La Casa is made up of passionate and experienced professionals that advocated tirelessly for clients. I have enjoyed volunteering, working for and supporting La Casa, and I am so grateful for and inspired by their work, and the strength of their many clients.

I've been volunteering with the organization for some time now, and I've never encountered a non-profit with a staff quite so patient and accomodating as that of La Casa De Las Madres. They're good people; kind and personable, and ever-willing to impart their valuable knowledge, experience, and expertise in the field to those willing to listen and learn. I haven't spent a second with them that I felt my time and effort was going unappreciated. The volunteer program is structured so as to enable those working with them to take on any degree of responsibility they feel ready for and interested in pursuing. I truly can't speak highly enough about the people.

La Casa de Las Madres is an organization that provides support to survivors of domestic violence while also focusing on prevention and education. Working with them as a volunteer has been a really amazing experience. La Casa is dedicated to serving the community and this is evident in not only the different services they offer but in the atmosphere within their space. The staff are amazing and work diligently with survivors and donors to facilitate change. They provide such a necessary service and do so wonderfully!

I’ve been a volunteer with La Casa de las Madres on and off since 2017. Their training was one of the best and most interesting I’ve ever attended. It’s been a great experience.
Although, this non-profit is no longer close to my work, I will still continue supporting it. I am really grateful for the online volunteer opportunity La Casa offers. All La Casa’s employees I’ve met and spoken to have always been very friendly, helpful and supportive. I definitely recommend this non-profit for volunteering if you want to make a difference.

I have volunteered with this nonprofit for community outreach and donated to its shelters. The team I worked with is passionate, knowledgeable, well-organized, and eager to drive change around the domestic violence that plagues our communities and society. I learned so much about domestic violence awareness and prevention just by volunteering, and will continue to support them however I can do raise more awareness. I recommend partnering with, donating to, and learning more about La Casa de las Madres!

La Casa provides essential services for the community, but they go so much further than just the essential. The advocacy, education, and support they provide make them a leader and trusted voice in the domestic violence space. They've helped countless people get the help they need. Thank you, La Casa, for everything you do!

La Casa is full of the most supportive and positive people! Everyone is willing to help out even if they have never met you before. They will listen to your ideas and take the time to show you how important your role is and how much you are helping out the community and how your work is valued! La Casa is super organized and so welcoming, I am so glad I got the experience of volunteering for a non-profit with such an amazing mission and goal!

I have been volunteering on and off with this non-profit for some time now. The work they do is just amazing and the staff is top-notch! I would definitely recommend La Casa and will continue to support them in their future projects!

This organization does amazing work in providing services for survivors of domestic abuse. Even now during Covid-19, they continue to keep up emergency services to ensure people can find help. They are wonderful!

The work that La Casa does is incredible, and I have never been treated with anything less than the utmost respect from the staff there. A powerful organization that appears incredibly ran to me, and I'm thankful I've been able to volunteer there.

La Casa is an amazing organization that provides professional and critical services for the community. Staff is committed and compassionate. They make sure women and children have a safe place to go when they need it most.

I have been volunteering with La Casa for the last two years for their annual Redhot* fundraising event.
The people at La Casa de las Madres are really there to support those in crisis day or night. I would hope that anyone who finds themselves in a frightening or dangerous situation calls because they will help!

The community of San Francisco is fortunate to have such an organization.

I've been associated with La Casa de las Madres for over 3 years in the capacity of a volunteer and donor. I strongly believe the work they do is critical in eliminating domestic violence in our communities in San Francisco. Despite being a small organization with limited resources, it is incredible that they are able to provide 24/7 support to victims of domestic violence via hotline phone / text, and services including shelter, trauma counseling and legal support. It is beyond gut-wrenching to hear the stories of victims, women and children in our vicinity. The impact that the La Casa has on their lives is incredible and I am inspired by the commitment and tireless dedication of their staff. I am honored to be a part of their mission and hope to make a small difference in ending the cycle of domestic violence.

I volunteer with La Casa both in the shelter and helping to plan our annual fundraiser. Ever since I met the volunteer manager and learned about La Casa’s mission, I have been drawn to the organization. Staff members are compassionate and whip smart. Being a volunteer is incredibly rewarding, and the training I received in order to volunteer in client facing roles was second to none. Most importantly, the work La Casa does is meaningful, important, and life changing. And they do this work with care and a mindset of helping survivors. I couldn’t recommend La Casa more. My experiences with the organization have been some of the most meaningful of my life.

I've had the opportunity to work with La Casa de las Madres in the capacity of redHot Party host for the year 2019. Working with the charity has been an amazing experience, Kara helped guide her team of other superstar volunteers to another successful event that raised $150K+ to help in combating domestic violence in San Francisco.

I greatly look forward to continuing my volunteer and charity effort with Casa de las Madres and with Kara's team. Here's to the 2020 redHot Party!

I've been with La Casa for almost 3 years, and I love what I do. The services that we are able to provide to our clients are so necessary as they navigate this chapter of their lives when they often have no one to turn to. La Casa's advocates offer victims and survivors of DV, unconditional support, and an opportunity to take a breath and re-asses their situation.

I didn't know what I was getting myself into when it came to volunteering with La Casa and although I was at first nervous, it was one of the best experiences I've had when it comes to learning and becoming apart of the community. With the abundance of speakers and knowledgable staff, even though some days and nights were long, I still went home energised with everything that I learned. I not only learned about DV survivors, but I also realised a lot about myself and the relationships that I have with other people. Not to mention, I also learned how to listen more! It's a great experience that I would recommend to anyone that is looking to be apart of SF community.

I volunteer at La Casa de las Madres. The training required to work with clients is amazing and if you have the time I highly recommend it. Once I started volunteering I realized how much more I wanted and needed to learn. I feel like I am making a difference.

I recently completed a 40 Hr domestic violence advocacy training with La Casa and it was one of the most enlightening and engaging small-group learning experiences I've been through. La Casa is thorough, highly attuned to the specific issues that face the San Francisco Bay Area community, and extremely engaged. The community leaders they brought in to lead various parts of the training were equally passionate and knowledgeable. I'm looking forward to volunteering with La Casa and am grateful for having been able to work and grow with them.

La casa has been great in providing shelter when my niece had no one to turn to. She's in the bay area away from her family and when she was faced with DV, she had no support from us. At the hospital she was referred to La Casa by her nurse and was accepted to the shelter program. Thank you for everything you do!

La Casa's life-saving services are needed in cities everywhere and we are lucky to have such a strong and compassionate organization in San Francisco. Leading the way for over 40 years, I am grateful to be a small part of a critical continuum of care.

I have been an employee at La Casa for almost 3 years. The work that is done throughout this organization is incredible. One of the best things about La Casa is that we are placed all over the city throughout different facilities. This allows us to meet survivors where they are currently rather than only being available in one location. We are able to meet and help more survivors this way.

The people who work here are passion about the work which makes it that much better. I am very proud to work for such an amazing organization.

La Casa does an amazing job teaching the community and changing public perceptions about domestic violence. I have learned so much about the pervasive and prevalent notions that continue to perpetuate violence in our society, how it is interwoven in so many aspects of daily life. La Casa taught me about restorative justice, how to talk to survivors, and what to do even within my family and community to address these difficult topics and challenge the conversation so people may be more aware of how to discuss handle discuss the deep issues within the microcosm of their family, friends, and community unit.

La casa is well-known in the community because of the work they do. La Casa's commitment to ensure safety and put an end to domestic violence, puts the organization at the forefront of the cause. La casa also employs advocates whom are passionate about the work they do.

La Casa does critical work for the community and ensures that all women and children have a safe place to go when they need it most. Staff is committed, volunteers are devoted and compassionate, and the survivors that seek their services are an inspiration to all of us.

From their caring staff and the full spectrum of resources that they provide to women and children, to their forward-thinking community education and outreach programs, this organization is taking the lead to empower survivors and end the cycle of domestic violence.

I completed domestic violence advocacy training at La Casa De Las Madres. The staff and training were great and helpful. Enjoyed training with great people.

I recently completed La Casa de las Madres' 40-hour Domestic Violence training offering an incredible amount of information for compassionate, conscientious, resource rich trauma informed care. I feel that I have taken away a great deal from those who came to speak to us about their work and was really quite deeply moved throughout the week. I would surely recommend this training and this organization to anyone seeking training or resources.

I have volunteered with Casa De Las Madres. They provide a very important service for the community with counseling and support, as well as the drop in center and shelter. They are also a strong voice and advocate for many who feel that they are unable to speak up. The staff and volunteers are extremely helpful, knowledgeable and supportive.

I volunteered on the event committee with La Casa — this is a group of extremely hard-working and dedicated people who are truly passionate about the mission of the organization. Not only do they provide a service for a real need in San Francisco, they have also become a strong, powerful voice in the community raising awareness about an issue that is too often put in the dark.

I am a current employee at La Casa de las Madres and I have been with the organization for 7 months. I started my journey in the nonprofit sector in hope of creating positive change at scale and that is exactly what La Casa is doing today.

I stand with La Casa because I am passionate and determined to make a difference in peoples lives - today - tomorrow - and for future generations. I believe in La Casa's mission and I too envision a society where violence is not tolerated and all individuals and families have equal access to basic resources and a safe place to call home.

I enjoy working with my team, I feel motivated and inspired every day. In my current position I have the opportunity to create awareness, educate, and inspire others to make a difference. I look forward to the future and I am excited to see La Casa grow in years to come.

I began participating in La Casa’s events several years ago and grew inspired to volunteer after seeing their community impact and meeting so many wonderful people. La Casa is an indispensable advocate, motivating themselves and others to help continue the ongoing expansion and improvement of essential services.

I have volunteered with La Casa for over a year now and have found the work to be incredibly fulfilling. The people I have met, (employees, volunteers & clients) are incredibly kind, generous and inspiring. I especially recommend the 40-hour training that La Casa provides - it was both informative and engaging.
I look forward to working further with this amazing organization.

Just last night, a woman approached me asking for money - in San Francisco this happens all the time. What stood out to me is what she was asking for, she needed $40 to get to a woman's shelter in San Mateo, because La Casa was full. This broke my heart, when a woman gets the courage to finally say ENOUGH and get out of a bad situation, she should not have to go to another city to get help. This is why I volunteer with La Casa De Las Madres, so we can raise enough money to open up more beds in the shelter and get help to women and families when needed.

La Casa has had a tremendous impact on the San Francisco community thanks to their holistic approach (advocacy, community education, shelter services, and survivor resources) and stellar leadership. They very effectively allocate their resources, operating with a streamlined staff, focusing on critical needs, and working with committed and well-trained volunteers when possible. I’m proud to have worked with their organization in various capacities for nearly ten years (donor, volunteer, Steering Committee member) and am excited to continue to support them in the future.

La Casa De Las Madres supports women in crisis, need, or transition. The crisis hotline helps. The safe housing provides a solution to issues that arise through broken homes, IPV, and or the streets.

I have been employed with La Casa for some time now. The entire staff are hard working individuals who truly believe in the mission and work that is done throughout the community. As a employee, I feel appreciated by management, who go above and beyond to support the staff.

I have been a volunteer for La Casa for almost a year now and have loved being involved with their life-changing work. The 40-hour volunteer training is incredibly thorough, informative, and inspiring. I also really appreciated how open all the leaders were to feedback about the structure of the training. I have volunteered at the shelter, the drop-in center, and several events (where I represented La Casa). I have felt valued and heard as staff are sensitive to my interests and desires when they send me volunteer needs. However, most importantly, I feel like I am able to help La Casa fulfill its mission during my volunteering and I feel like all the staff have welcomed me in with open arms. Being able to help in a real way has been incredible! This is a judgement free place where staff are really dedicated to ending domestic violence!

Last year before I started volunteering for La Casa De Las Madres I took the DV training that they offer. I have learned enormous amount of information from different fields related to domestic violence. Now I am happy to volunteer at the events representing La Casa De Las Madres and their services. I have closely been working with Kara Duggan and Andrea Diaz all that time. They both are wonderful! They have been supporting me and helping me tremendously.
La Casa De Las Madres is GREAT!!!

I started volunteering with La Casa in February, after moving to San Francisco six months prior. The training was comprehensive, and a wonderful introduction to services, resources, and non-profits throughout the city. It helped me to connect to a new urban landscape and commit to helping to make positive change. Working at the shelter has been incredibly uplifting - the opportunity to work and play with these women and their families has been joyful and heart-warming. It's a privilege and a pleasure to volunteer with La Casa.

I came to La Casa after working for 2 years as a volunteer at the emergency shelter. I enjoyed my volunteer experience so much that I chose to commit myself full-time to the work of La Casa. I have consistently been impressed by the unrelenting focus of the organization on eliminating domestic violence in the Bay Area.

As both an employee and volunteer, I have always felt respected, well-managed and challenged…

La Casa has a rich history of advocating and assisting domestic violence survivors in our community. I am proud to work for an organization that continues to strive towards a violence-free future.

I have worked for La Casa for almost 3 years. During my time here I have advanced professionally and continue to learn and be challenged. La Casa continues to support my development in the field and acknowledge my contribution to the team. I appreciate immensely the team-work mentality. I have felt supported and nurtured by all staff, including the management team.

La Casa de las Madres is a great place to work. In my time at La Casa I have been continuously supported by the Executive Director as well as the management team. In fact, the entire staff works collaboratively and effectively to ensure success of this program. I continue to see my own growth as well as the growth of other employees with all the training and development opportunities we are given. I know my continued work at La Casa is not only appreciated and acknowledged by managers and directors, but also the community served.

La Casa has a wonderful history in the community of helping domestic violence survivor women and children. The employees are passionate about the work they do.

There is an excessive amount of turnover for a reason, and it is easy to understand why there are lawsuits against this organization.

The value of any given employee's expertise and skills is of no relevance or interest to management. Over-bearing micromanagement does not make space for employees to serve the clients the mission sets out to assist. Experts in their field, the passionate employees of La Casa are not trusted to perform their job functions by the ED, who walks through the office each day muttering put downs and setting the office tone of tension and fear. The Associate Director reorganizes the development associates desk while they are trying to perform their job functions, and criticizes what and how most phone calls are handled, so that 4 people have held the position within year's time. The most recently 'promoted' Program Manager has insufficient experience to perform the work the position requires. She makes inappropriate comments about crashing employees weddings, complains most days of being tired and leaves early, though she doesn't appear to work most of the day, and rather than scheduling content related to the La Casa mission for staff meetings, has a food pantry coming for 6 hour and half sessions to make food since she like to eat.

Volunteers are considered warm bodies to patch the holes left with so much employee turnover, and there is utterly no appreciation for their dedication and time .

A solution to the ongoing crisis at the agency with the oldest domestic violence shelter in California would be to clean house, starting from the top. The governing board really needs to consider seriously the employment turnover and examine carefully what is happening inside the organization domestic violence survivors think of when they need help, and further, consider how these clients' needs are being met when the staff and volunteers are disregarded so frivolously. This 40 year old organization will quickly crumble if new leadership and organizational restructuring is not implemented soon.

We were evicted from our home in July and I am in desperate need of help to find a place for my family and i

I came to La Casa de las Madres in 2006 without any experience in the field, but a passion to help empower women and children to live a life free from violence. I'm very dishearten by some of the comments below about upper management and Kathy Black. When I came to this agency without any experience Kathy give me the opportunity to learn and grow within the agency. It's extremely disheartening that individuals who claim to value and love the work La Casa does have launched a full on character assassination via cyber bullying to further their own agenda. I believe in change, it's good for growth in every aspect of life. I do not agree with the changes that are being vocalized here. I am one of the many non-management employees of La Casa who's views and opinions are not represented in the so called anonymous survey. I'm sadden by the agenda behind the survey. The survey results do not accurately reflect all of La Casa's current or former staff. As a current employee I was never asked to participate in an anonymous survey. I want to make this very clear I was not approached by Kathy or upper management to write this, so please do not take my comments with a grain of salt or try to devaluated my experience.

Unfortunately, I had to leave La Casa about a year ago now. Although, I really valued the work I was doing, I was disgusted by the work culture and the way management treats staff. In my 3 years with the organization, I have heard the executive director call her employees “sissy,” state that they are “replaceable,” and talk poorly about staff members behind their back, often times breaching staff confidentiality. I have witnessed really competent employees getting fired for speaking up to management. Working at the Drop-in Center was like walking on eggshells. The irony of working at a domestic violence agency when your ED has the biggest power trips and verbally abuses her employees.

I remember when my coworkers and I addressed our concerns during a staff meeting because we were understaffed which not only put a lot of stress on the advocates fulfilling multiple roles, but also affected the services that are being delivered because clients are waiting or be told to call back because there is not enough staff to be attending to the crisis line, seeing clients, and covering the reception at the same time. My concerns were never addressed and I was told that I couldn’t speak at the meetings anymore. Wow, so much for having an open door policy.

La Casa has so much potential and the staff do such important work that it’s a shame the way their employees are being treated. As a former employee, I was also active in trying to reach out to the board of directors to schedule a meeting, but unfortunately we got no active response, which causes me to question the relationship between the ED and the board. Something needs to change because La Casa has one of the highest turnover rates for a non-profit. It’s funny how understaffed and how slow they are to replace employees, but the ED is making over $140,000. Something’s wrong with this picture.

As a weekly volunteer at La Casa’s shelter for the past fifteen months, my experience with every person in the organization, including Kathy Black, has been outstanding and truly an honor. Each staff person I’ve come to know genuinely cares about our clients and makes every attempt to serve in the most caring, sensitive and personal way. Dedicating some of my free time each week to La Casa is my small way to serve women and children who have experienced domestic violence—these women and families deserve to be treated with respect, kindness, and dignity—the La Casa way is a culture of caring and support.
As the owner of a Mission district business for over 20 years, I know how challenging it can be when one or a few disaffected, divisive former employees are unwilling to move on in a positive way. At a place like La Casa, that kind of negativity will not interrupt or diminish the exalted work being done at this incredible organization…it energizes us and engenders a steely resolve to protect the positive good that comes daily from every caring interaction.

I am an individual that has been working in the not-for-profit field for over 16 consecutive years. Of those 16 years, I have worked for La Casa for 10 years. I first began my relationship with La Casa while I worked for workforce development agency. I was referring a victim to their agency and the first encounter that I had was with the front desk staff and Kathy Black, who was the Executive Director. Kathy was right there at the front-line ready to answer all of my questions as a referring case manager. She encouraged any and all inquiries, which made me feel very comfortable. I later began working for La Casa as an advocate in the emergency shelter, and within a year I moved into a coordinator position where I was given the opportunity to expand my skills and career. After a year as a coordinator, I left the agency due to personal reasons but continued to work within the agency as an on-call staff. Because of my past experience with La Casa, I have recently returned and now work full-time with this agency.


But I would like to express my experience not only with La Casa as an agency but also personally with Kathy Black. I don’t have a resume filled with credentials and higher education, I do however have an extensive work history. Kathy gave me an opportunity to be a part of this organization and through my continued hard work, I was given an opportunity to move up, learn, and expand. There has not been any point within my years of working at La Casa that have I ever experienced feeling that I could not talk with Kathy or any of my immediate supervisors. When I was experiencing personal issues, I knew that Kathy had an open door policy, and I was able to talk with my immediate supervisor at the time and Kathy. They were very understanding and willing to work with me to make adjustments. I have personally felt that I could approach Kathy with any questions or my thoughts and opinions and never felt there would be any type of retaliation as a result. I am only one staff person within this agency but I feel strongly that I’d like to express my experience and really appreciate the opportunity, on Great Non Profits, to do so. Thanks so much.

I have worked for La Casa for over five years, about half in direct service to clients and the other half in manager and director level positions. In that time I have gone through two pregnancies, raised a family, and commuted over an hour each way on a daily basis. When people ask me why I have continued to work full time amidst those challenges, my answer is always the same: I love my job and I love this organization.

When I talk to people who are considering coming to work here or who have just started, I often share my story, because I think it's a great example of the opportunity this organization provides. I originally applied for a part time job as an advocate at La Casa. I was actually looking for full-time work, but I had heard of La Casa's positive reputation and that was what was available. I was lucky in that they were able to provide me with a full-time position as an advocate splitting time between two programs. I immediately loved working here; I had a passion for the work I was doing and I also had a wonderful and supportive supervisor. She was always there when I needed her and always treated me respectfully whether providing positive feedback or constructive criticism. I always felt like I received the training and feedback I needed to grow both on a one-on-one basis and in a group setting in staff meetings and other trainings that we were provided.

About a year later, a case management position opened. The executive director, Kathy Black, let staff know that the position was open and encouraged me to apply. Although I was more than qualified for the position, without her encouragement it hadn't occurred to me to apply. I had a similarly positive experience with my supervisor in that role and continued to feel supported in my growth as a professional and within the organization. Another year later, a position in management opened up. Again, I wouldn't have applied for this position without the support and encouragement other management staff and particularly Kathy Black. I knew that I was qualified, but knowing that they believed in me made gave me the confidence I needed to take the initiative to pursue it.

Since that time, for almost the past three years, Kathy Black has been my direct supervisor. Like my other supervisors at this organization, Kathy has always been respectful towards me whether giving me positive feedback or counseling me in areas where I can improve. She has supported me in developing myself in a leadership role, often at times when I was uncertain of myself. Seeing her passion for this work continues to be an inspiration to me both personally and professionally.

I think the most important part of my story is that it's not at all unique. There are so many people in this organization who have been involved in a variety of ways, from volunteering to relief staff who move on to administrative and advocate roles, then on to case management and beyond. To me it speaks volumes about the organization that people are so invested in staying here and similarly speaks volumes about the leadership that they are willing to invest in their employees.

As a community member with ties to La Casa staff, have been appalled and astonished by La Casa’s wholesale lack of responsiveness to widely shared concerns about its Executive Director’s behavior. It seems the Board of Directors has done little to curb the ED’s persistent harassment of and retaliation against staff who voice concerns or suggestions for improvement.

Any organization aimed at empowering its members to overcome structural violence/abuse should seek to model this change in its leadership. Unfortunately, La Casa's ED and Board of Directors have not recognized or assumed this responsibility. And while the La Casa staff has done exceptional work in the community, it is in spite of, not because of, the leadership.

I encourage anyone reading the comments below in defense of the ED to take their contents with a grain of salt – HR and upper management, with their distinct motives and interests, cannot be relied upon to depict the working environment with transparency when abusive dynamics are at play.

This organization has tremendous potential, and I sincerely hope the leadership chooses to take the necessary action to realize it.

Since 1999 I have been employed by La Casa de las Madres, first as a counselor, then as Program Director and I am currently the Clinical Supervisor, a position I have enjoyed since 2001. I work side by side and train the therapists at La Casa who provide psychotherapy to residents at the shelter and to women, teens and children at La Casa's Drop In Center.

I am disturbed by the comments below, alluding to Kathy Black as a liability to La Casa. Kathy was my direct supervisor when I was the Program Director and my experience of being an employee was worlds apart than that described. It has been my experience that working at La Casa offers opportunities for growth and learning if a person is interested and capable of that. I have seen staff begin their employment as a receptionist and go on to work as an advocate and then shelter manager. I have seen staff begin as relief staff and become case manager at the new Housing Authority site. I have had the opportunity to grow and flourish at La Casa.I have known staff that left La Casa for other jobs and returned to La Casa because they believe in the work and feel supported by staff. It is an easy and cheap shot to point the finger at your boss. Especially anonymously.
In my work as a psychotherapist and as a supervisor, I remind myself and those I work with to look within when troubled by others as projection can be a dangerous and destructive defense.

Since I have worked at La Casa I have witnessed the conception of and implementation of many new programs; The Teen Program, the DVRT Program, the case management at The Mary Elizabeth Inn and Verona Hotel. None of these existed prior to Kathy's time as Executive Director. She has expanded services at a time where unfortunately many non-profits have had to close. We have affiliations in the community that have been nurtured by Kathy.

I have felt supported and cared for by Kathy and the staff at La Casa. I have had difficult conversations with Kathy as an employee and contractor and found her door always open and her to be fair and open minded while considering my needs or requests. It has been my honor and privilege to be part of this vital, strong agency for 16 years.

In 2013 I began volunteering at La Casa as part of an undergrad requirement. I was pleasantly surprised at the great support and treatment staff, including management staff, gave volunteers. As a domestic violence survivor myself, it gave me great pride to be a part of an organization that does so much for awareness of domestic violence. When a position opened up, I jumped at the opportunity. Over the almost year that I have been a staff member at La Casa, I have experienced the same support and treatment that I initially received as a volunteer. In particular, I have received much support from Lindsay, the Program Director, who’s always open and accessible to any questions or concerns I may have as well as the Kathy, the Executive Director, who has played a major role in my own professional development, which I am ever so grateful for. It’s great to work alongside such passionate individuals who give their all on a daily basis in support to La Casa’s clients and the growth of the organization.

In regards to the negative review that user: staff.lacasa wrote I would like to point out that I was never approached by anyone to give my input on the “staff-run survey” that staff.lacasa provided a link to. This survey is a misrepresentation of La Casa staff and the organization’s workplace environment, as it only presents the opinion of 13 anonymous employees out of almost 40 current employees. It saddens me that an individual that clearly has a personal gripe against one person at the organization would go through such lengths to overshadow the great work that is being done at La Casa and the immense support that us “paid staff” receive from management including Kathy Black.

As La Casa’s associate director and a long-time member of La Casa de las Madres’ staff, I am disheartened by the comments included in the post below. They do not reflect my experiences, over nearly 14 years, of a passion-filled, supportive, hard-working, and visionary community of staff and volunteers. It’s sad and frustrating to hear – particularly in this anonymous and public communication purporting to seek “positive change” – that employees feel voiceless and see no other recourse.

I know that we offer many opportunities for input and feedback, both from clients and staff. And I can attest to the organization’s care and proactivity in service of our community, which includes staff, volunteers, survivors, partners, and contributors. While La Casa does have a management structure which includes a hierarchy of power and supervision, it’s designed and implemented to facilitate staff support and improve client service offerings and delivery. It’s also an open environment. Supervisors’ doors are open, scheduled supervisory and support convenings – both for individual members and program teams – are frequent, and policies and procedures are articulated and accessible in central locations to guide staff through the philosophical, legal, and practical underpinnings of La Casa’s approach to and work with and for survivors. Bimonthly all-staff gatherings open space for agency wide communication, sharing challenges, and presenting ideas, progress, and plans. For direct service staff each bimonthly session includes an additional skill-building or training component, which includes self-care among many other resources and topics. I see managers’ doors open and know program directors invite staff to share their experiences and bring ideas to the table.

There are always things that can be done to improve a workplace, and sometimes the experience of supervision can be harder than we as supervised employees like to admit – our accountability and responsibility balanced against the organization’s.

La Casa is a vibrant and critical resource that I am proud to call home. It navigates the difficult terrain of nonprofit service with a deep integrity: by championing service of its mission and community while holding itself accountable to that community and by balancing the practical realities of managing a business with the heart, soul, and challenges of trauma-based work that also unearths longstanding imbalances in real and perceived power. La Casa’s integrity – its internal and external philosophical resonance – and Kathy Black’s leadership are why I have stayed. I am extremely lucky to be not just a part of La Casa’s and the broader anti-violence community, but one who earns my living through this work. I am proud, and I am grateful.

La Casa de las Madres’ Executive Director is a huge liability to the functioning of the organization and she has been a primary and direct cause for La Casa having an ongoing inability to maintain a full staff. The following link shows independent staff-run survey results reflecting these issues with upper management:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-gLWBFlOWFtsNg0KQQd9pE4N6Z-Jfo11NP3Qyg9p25k/viewanalytics

For further details on the situation at La Casa de las Madres, please note the following:

1) Most reviews written at greatnonprofits.org for La Casa are from volunteers. The work of La Casa's volunteers is much appreciated; volunteers are generally treated with respect at La Casa—as they should be. Unfortunately, paid staff do not experience the same treatment and many fear posting about their personal experiences on this and other websites in fear of retaliation from the upper management.

2) Policy and procedures at La Casa and the way they are actually carried out by the upper management often only prioritize meeting funding goals while restricting staff’s ability to respond to client needs as voiced by the clients themselves and the direct service staff who work with them on a daily basis. It is important that La Casa can deliver services that meet the needs of the community and respond in a flexible way that evolves at the same rate as the needs of our clients do. It is important that we ask clients what their needs are and how we can further create and deliver services in a way that specifically addresses their needs. Quarterly reports to funders are not sufficient in reflecting these needs as they are specifically structured to reflect whether funding requirements have been met and not whether actual client needs are being met or their actual outcomes are successful. At La Casa, “getting our numbers up” takes priority over providing quality services.

3) La Casa de las Madres has a serious problem retaining staff due to the negative work environment created by the upper management., This problem is hidden from funders. On several occasions, direct service staff (advocates, case managers) have overheard upper management lie directly to funders about staff turnover during their meetings at our drop-in center saying that staff leave to pursue higher education or for personal reasons. In the past two years La Casa has had over 20 staff leave, and this number is excessive considering the small overall size of our organization (full capacity varies, but generally 25-35 people). Unfortunately, this turnover rate has been due to the way upper management—specifically the Executive Director of La Casa—mistreats staff. We encourage funders to speak directly to several non-managerial staff from each program. Ask upper management to let you speak with direct service staff who have been at La Casa for longer than a year, maybe two years if possible (although there are very few people who have been there that long). See for yourselves how efficiently your money is being spent. Is your money constantly used to ensure the safety of women and children fleeing domestic violence? Or is it being spent on constantly posting ads on Craigslist and interviewing/training new staff? Paying overtime because facilities are understaffed? Paying for legal advising because the ED is in constant fear of litigation from the many staff members she has mistreated?

4) In October 2014, current and former La Casa staff organized to address some of the issues that staff were facing at the organization. We asked that the Board to actively participate in ensuring that staff have a safe space to voice their opinions about concerns specifically associated with the upper management’s mistreatment of staff at La Casa. The letter read as follows:

October 24, 2014
Dear La Casa de las Madres’ Board of Directors:
This letter is written on behalf of La Casa de las Madres’ current and former staff. In light of La Casa's vision that all individuals attain safety and respect in their lives, La Casa's current and former staff feel it necessary to reach out to our Board of Directors for assistance. La Casa is widely recognized for being at the forefront of the anti-domestic violence movement in the Bay Area and beyond. For this reason, La Casa has always attracted a team of staff who are passionate and devoted to upholding the mission of the organization. We wish to go above and beyond expectation to provide our clients with the excellent advocacy they deserve. As a domestic violence agency committed to countering power and control over women, it is crucial that the upper management model the professionalism, trust and respect that we embody for our clients.
After attending a self-care staff retreat with other Bay Area domestic violence organizations such as The Riley Center, CORA, and Woman Inc., we were encouraged as a team to recognize our needs as service providers to survivors of trauma. We were impressed by the culture of nonhierarchical team collaboration, transparent decision making and authentic self-care at the participating agencies. We feel that the small efforts at La Casa to improve have not been effective in stemming the overwhelming rate of staff turnover and the negative atmosphere in our organization. The upper management’s attitudes and policies towards subordinate employees are the primary source of ongoing complaint.
We would like to request that La Casa's Board of Directors issue an anonymous survey of current and former staff member's experiences, feelings and satisfaction with working at La Casa. Given the current atmosphere at our organization, the remarkably high rate of staff turnover and the ongoing number of unfilled positions, it is pressing that we are offered an anonymous means of sharing our experiences. Recent attempts by staff members to address these issues directly with their supervisors have been ignored or dealt with inadequately. Therefore it does not feel safe or productive to communicate directly with upper management for a response to our concerns. For this reason, we are reaching out to the Board of Directors for assistance.
If the Board agrees to this proposal, we would like to collaboratively work to elicit honest feedback from current and former staff. We look forward to your response and hope to work together to express our needs in order to promote the growth and success of La Casa de las Madres and the individuals and families we serve. Thank you for your time and attention in this critical matter.
Sincerely,
12 non-managerial La Casa staff members and 23 former employees

The Board’s response was:

Board of Directors
11/23/14
Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors of La Casa de las Madres in response to your two recent anonymous emails. The Board and La Casa’s management team welcome input from La Casa employees concerning its policies and procedures. We encourage you or any employees who would like to provide feedback on La Casa’s policies and procedures to contact La Casa’s Executive Director, Kathy Black at kathy@lacasa.org. If you are not satisfied with the response Kathy offers or you are not comfortable contacting Kathy, you may contact me at board@lacasa.org.

While we welcome constructive dialogue with management and staff on concerns relating to La Casa’s policies and procedures, we do not believe that an anonymous survey conducted by an unidentified third party would be an effective method to assess La Casa’s policies and practices. We will instead be communicating directly with current staff concerning these issues. If you are a member of staff, we look forward to hearing more about your views.

Sincerely,
Maria Bee
[the names disclosed in these emails are public]

No staff member was willing to non anonymously speak directly to the Board out of fear so we drafted a second letter and formulated our own survey that reflected the immediate concerns of staff. The letter read as follows:

December 30, 2014

Dear Maria Bee and Members of LCDM’s Board of Directors:
On October 24, 2014 we, a group of current and former La Casa de las Madres employees, submitted a letter to you that brought your attention to a pervasive dissatisfaction with the upper management’s treatment of employees at La Casa. Because so many current and former staff feared retaliation if they addressed these concerns directly to their supervisors or to upper management, we decided as a group to request that the Board of Directors issue an anonymous staff survey to stimulate a review of La Casa’s leadership. We hoped that if we were allowed a safe method to share our true feelings and experiences working at La Casa, the Board of Directors would be extremely concerned and take action.
On November 23, 2014, Board President, Maria Bee sent a reply to our letter. The reply fell short of our expectations in several ways. First, the reply implies that we are contesting LCDM’s Policy and Procedures. However, our letter makes it clear that our complaint lies with upper management’s behavior and treatment of staff, including, but not limited to, their use of policy to run the organization in a way that is unsatisfactory. To be clear, our primary complaint is that Kathy Black’s behavior towards staff and abuse of her power as Executive Director is unacceptable and contradictory to our mission as an anti-domestic violence organization. Secondly, the reply to our letter asks staff to provide feedback directly to their supervisors or to Kathy Black. As we clearly stated in our letter, the specific purpose of reaching out to the Board of Directors for support rather than La Casa management is due to the need for an anonymous venue for feedback. We also stated that previous attempts to address our concerns have been unsuccessful in creating lasting positive change. Again, no current or former staff member felt safe or comfortable coming forward directly for fear of retaliation from Kathy Black due to her reputation for such behavior. Unfortunately, we do not feel assured of our confidentiality in contacting you through an email address within the lacasa.org domain. Finally, your reply to our letter solicits feedback from current La Casa staff only. It is essential that former staff members be included in this process in order to highlight Kathy Black’s pattern of mistreatment of La Casa staff over the years. Because of the high turnover rate, the majority of current staff have worked at La Casa for less than a year, and many for less than six months. Unfortunately, many former staff left La Casa have experienced or witnessed unacceptably negative behavior on the part of Kathy Black, and a serious attempt to review her behavior cannot overlook their experiences. Your response email to current La Casa staff undermines our letter by suggesting that it was written by an individual or a third party. We reiterate that this letter was read and approved by 35 current and former staff, and it was sent through an anonymous email address because no individual felt safe coming forward, even as a messenger.
Over two months ago, we sent the Board of Directors a letter requesting your attention and support regarding our serious dissatisfaction with upper management’s treatment of La Casa staff. During the past two months, no proactive effort has been taken on the part of the Board of Directors or La Casa management to directly address the complaints we raised. It is disheartening that the Board fails to take seriously the voices of the team of people who have sincerely dedicated themselves to La Casa’s mission. Because La Casa’s Board hesitated to facilitate an anonymous survey of our experiences and feelings, we have done so on our own. You may review the results of this survey at the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-gLWBFlOWFtsNg0KQQd9pE4N6Z-Jfo11NP3Qyg9p25k/viewanalytics

We hope the responses to this survey shed light on the unacceptable treatment of staff by Kathy Black and her direct hand in causing so many talented and passionate employees to leave the organization. A group of current staff have volunteered to come forward despite their fears of retaliation. We would like to schedule a meeting with the President of the Board to further this conversation. If the Board continues to minimize or ignore these concerns, we will have no choice but to seek outside support.
Domestic violence is never a private matter. As domestic violence advocates, we refuse to tolerate unacceptable behavior, violence and abuse any longer at our organization. We encourage you to support us in breaking the silence about our treatment in our workplace. By staying true to our values and mission, La Casa de las Madres can remain at the forefront of the anti-domestic violence movement in our community. It is in good faith that we again reach out to you, the Board of Directors, in hopes of creating positive change at La Casa de las Madres.

Sincerely,
Current and Former La Casa Staff

Since this letter was written, four months ago, there has been no further action on the part of the Board or the upper management to address this situation. In the past four months nine staff members have quit or have been fired, and still no proactive measure has been taken to address the cause of this extremely high turnover and the toll it takes on remaining staff and the clients they serve.

La Casa could be a great nonprofit, but there are serious issues at the organization that boil down to a deep contradiction between our mission to end violence and abuse against women, and the verbal and emotional abuse and inordinate use of power and control happening on a daily basis towards La Casa’s own staff members.

I've been volunteering at La Casa for over a year now and they are one of the most well-run organizations I've ever volunteered for. Not only do they do great work in providing shelter for victims of abuse, but they really go above and beyond in providing support as well. Whether it's counseling, help with forms for filing a TRO or housing, the staff is always ready to help. It is amazing to see how much some of the clients grow self-confidence after just a few weeks at shelter, in major part due to the support of staff there. Moreover, La Casa is very active in the community--we've educated police officers, tabled events at local highschool and middle schools, and joined in local domestic violence or community events as well to spread the word about how La Casa can help. It is so rewarding to work with an organization where you actually get to see the results of your helping someone!

La Casa has helped so many individuals overcome different obstacles when they have been abused by the people closest to them. It's something that happens so often yet we hear so little about. The dedicated staff and their ongoing efforts to helping individuals overcome these harsh situations are important to our community.

La Casa de las Madres is a great non profit organization for a cause that is very important to be addressed in this society and around the world! They are doing great work in bringing awareness to the issue, as well as direct support of the survivors and their volunteers. We need more organizations like La Casa! This is an issue that nobody should be turning a blind eye to, as its consequences are spreading way beyond the person directly impacted. Please support and enable La Casa to do an even better work with more resources. Thank you!

La Casa de las Madres is an incredible organization with an inspiring mission and dedicated staff that help fulfill that vision. Domestic violence support and advocacy is difficult to do well but La Casa makes both the people it serves and its volunteers feel valued and appreciated.

Whenever I go to La Casa to volunteer, I feel like they are working for me instead of me working for them. Everybody always welcomes me with a smile and the volunteer coordinator, Jamie, is a great professional and the nicest human being. She is innovative and works hard to assess volunteer skills, train them and get the most out of them to create better programs for La Casa clients. All the other volunteers I know share this thoughts with me.
I am so happy to be able to invest my time in such an organization like La Casa.

Good Work!!

La Casa de las Madres has a very special place in my heart. Not only does La Casa offer a wealth of comprehensive services through their shelter program, they also tailor services to the individual. The "no judgements" culture significantly improves the quality of services presented by their advocates. I went through their shelter training program as a volunteer several years ago, and what I learned about myself in the 40 hrs of class was life-altering. It taught me that no matter what you see on the outside on an individual, inside we are all fighting the daily battle of survival so we need to help each other out despite our preconceived notions about how people should handle difficult situations. The most valuable lesson: listen... then, listen some more.

I have been volunteering at La Casa De Las Madres since March of 2013. I thoroughly enjoyed their 40 hour training program. It was incredibly informative and they made participation fun. It is my first experience volunteering anywhere and I appreciate every experience whether on the crisis line, taking care of children, or just lending a hand to clean. La Casa provides important services to support women and children as they transition to healthier, happier lives. And, I am glad to be of some assistance.

I have volunteered over many years at various non-profits and have particularly enjoyed my volunteer experience with La Casa. The staff and fellow volunteers are really amazing and the work they are doing is so important!! Great job everyone.

I've been volunteering at La Casa for the past 5 months and ever since I started I've always felt happy and excited to go and volunteer. I'm so happy that this association exists and helps so many adults and kids looking for a safe environment. Not only that, they provide additional activities to improve their way of leaving, like computer classes, financial and personal development classes, arts, etc. Giving hope to a lot of individuals and families to have a new beginning. I just feel so proud to be a member of this organization.

I have been with La Casa de las Madres for 6 months now and I couldn't be happier. The work this organization does is incredible, and so vital to the well being of our community. Domestic violence is a public health issue that needs to be addressed and stopped, La Casa is such an important and strong voice in the fight to end abuse. I am honored to be a part of an organization so completely dedicated to this movement.

I completed the training for La Casa last September and I have been a volunteer ever since. The training for La Casa was life changing. I learned so much information that I will never forget. I believe the training would be useful for anyone to take, even those not planning on volunteering or working for a domestic violence shelter. Volunteering for La Casa has also been an amazing experience. I hope to always have a relationship with this organization so I can continue to support the community.

Since the very first day I started volunteering at La Casa the staff have been very warm and welcoming. La Casa truly stands for what they believe in. They believe in the importance of their clients, staff, and volunteers. La Casa is definitely a safe place to learn and grow. This has been the best non-profit organization I have volunteered at. I enjoyed the 40 hour DV training and have learned so much from this organization. I hope to stay active with La Casa for a very long time.

I just completed a 40 hour DV training at La Casa and it was informational, empowering and I cannot wait to begin my work as a volunteer for the organization! I am proud to soon be a part of an organization that advocates for survivors of abuse in such a humble and effective manner. I was inspired by many of the speakers, their strength and passion for this work is apparent and it was truly motivational. Looking forward to volunteering for La Casa, I am sure that it will be a wonderful experience.

After recently completing the 40 hour training course at La Casa, I am astounded at this program's capability. The training was incredibly intense, which is nothing less than the survivors of domestic violence, who seek resources from La Casa, deserve. I can't say enough about the people involved in facilitating this training. They were warm, friendly and both emotionally and intellectually nurturing. I never felt at any point that my contributions were any less valid than those of the teachers. In addition to being thorough, ideologically sound, and professional, the program expressed both the capacity for an effective learning environment and a vulnerability that implied desire for growth in keeping current and relevant to survivor's needs in consistently changing social justice movement. I will miss the women I was in the training with, we were a pretty bonded group at the end of the course. I would especially like to recognize Jaime Cox, a pretty spectacular activist and woman.

I have recently finished the 40 hour training to become a volunteer at La Casa. I am blown away by how extensive, and ultimately rewarding, the experience was. I learned so much about all of the different resources that are available surrounding DV, as well as a broad overview of the subejcy itself. I never expected to receive training/presentations from such a wide array of organizations. My interactions with La Casa staff thus far have been extremely friendly and inviting. I am touched by just how much La Casa does for the community. It is truly invested in the welfare of its clients.

La Casa de las Madres, is a leader in domestic violence services; free, confidential, and open to all. La Casa serves women, teens, and their children to provide safety, resources, and hope. There are a number of ways to support this organization, including volunteering, donating goods and services, and spreading the word. Join the movement to end domestic violence in our homes and communities.
Check out their website: www.lacasa.org

This is one of the best volunteering experiences I have had. I strongly believe I have made a change to someone life. I will continue to help out in any way possible.

I was fortunate this summer to be an administrative volunteer at La Casa. All of the staff are very knowledgable, warm, and welcoming. I enjoyed all of the outreach events I participated in as a La Casa volunteer, including Sunday Streets events. I'm inspired by the work they do and will hopefully work for them again in the future!

La Casa is the leading voice in San Francisco against violence towards women and children. By donating to their services, I know that somewhere a survivor is getting the free services they deserve to end the cycle of violence.

I have been fortunate to be touched by the work of La Casa through my volunteer work with the organization. My office banded together to adopt a couple of families from La Casa for the holiday gift drive-- and that experience of helping to provide gifts for the La Casa families brought so much cohesion and spirit to our own holiday season. We have already committed to adopting even more families for next season. La Casa gives so much to the women and children that they serve, and they also provide many wonderful opportunities to the greater San Francisco community to engage in meaningful ways to the important issue of domestic violence.

I have seen first hand how La Casa de Las Madres is a top notch organization. I recently attended the 40 hour volunteer training and am impressed by its structure, organization and professionalism. They brought in highly knowledgable presenters to lead topics in all areas of domestic violence providing very valuable and helpful training. I've now volunteered at the office as well as the shelter and couldn't be happier about my decision to join La Casa.

I have volunteered at La Casa's women's shelter and I am so impressed with the services and support they provide to women and their children in San Francisco.

For several years now this organization has been helping me piece my life after DV. They care for people holistically, not just one aspect of things. They are respectful, supportive and caring. I'm very grateful for them.

La Casa has shown dedication in their work for families. They are a strong advocate for woman and the fight against domestic violence in San Francisco. It is one of the reasons I have continued to volunteer my time for the past three years as a member of their events committee. The women on their staff are truly inspiring. I also appreciated the efforts of La Casa to help as many families in need as possible. In that spirit, I will continue volunteering for them.

La casa de las Madres has incredibly dedicated leadership, staff, and volunteers. Not only do they do great work, they also share their lessons learned with the greater bay area community.

I've been a resident of San Francisco for almost twelve years, and during that time I've volunteered my time and services for a variety of non-profits. I must say that my volunteer experience at La Casa has been so enjoyable that I'm on my fifth consecutive year of involvement in La Casa's event planning and fundraising. The services they provide are essential to our community and to a future envisioned without violence. I do believe organizations are only as good as the people behind them, and in this case La Casa's staff and Board are one of the main reasons I continue to volunteer. Their dedication, grace, and professionalism in working with volunteers makes it an easy choice for me. And their work as advocates in our community is truly inspiring.

Two months ago I moved to the Bay Area after graduating from college. I must say that La Casa was my first home. Volunteering with La Casa De Las Madres has allowed me to become plugged into an incredible community of individuals, staff and volunteers, who are dedicated to supporting women and children who are victims of domestic violence. I am grateful that this organization exists and feel honored to be a part of the necessary and meaningful work that we do here!

Their commitment to the community is evident through their work. The manner in which La Casa promotes their comprehensive services as well as awareness in individuals to better serve and empower survivors of domestic violence. Their work and passion for what they do is truly amazing.

I joined La Casa in September of this year, starting with their 40 hour training and continuing as a shelter volunteer. Their impact on each woman that enters their shelter is so profound; I feel so lucky to be involved in their program. There are so many amazing people at La Casa helping each survivor in any way they can.

I have been working with Casa De Las Madres for over 13 years. I have seen them help many, many women and children. One of those women was my Grandchild who got pregnant at 15. They provided safe housing for her and her baby when she was in a domestic violent relationship. They helped her find resources and even provided a therapist for her. My granddaughter is now 30 and still asks about her therapist and some of the counselors from La Casa who worked with and helped her during that time period. Because I too work with survivors of violence, they have helped many of the clients I've worked with that needed assistance. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful organization and grateful for all the help they gave my granddaughter and her son and the many others they are still helping. When I heard recently they are now helping women over 50 who are in violent relationships, I was so grateful because now I have someone to send those I meet who need help to La Casa de las Madres for assistance and resources. Thank you Staff, Board and Volunteers! Mauryne Lees

As a recent DV Survivor, La Casa has given me the strength to give back to my community.

La Casa de las Madres is an amazing organization that's working toward a future free from domestic violence (DV). The way they serve the Bay Area population currently affected by DV is inspiring. I have been impressed by the warmth, acceptance, understanding and unconditional support they bring to all direct service interactions. The staff is talented and sharp in responding to the spectrum of needs that survivors of DV come with. In addition to this on-the-ground support, La Casa is a strong advocate against DV, rallying around policies and effecting big change. We cannot do without them.

La Casa is a wonderful nonprofit to volunteer with. Volunteering for La Casa has to be one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Being able to help women who have been victims of domestic violence is so improtant and until our world understands that violence is not acceptable we absolutely need organizations like La Casa De Las Madres who provide support, services and a safe community to victims of violence!

La Case is an amazing organization that prioritizes the well-being of everyone involved - the women served, staff, and volunteers. The organization's approach empowers women in a culturally competent, loving way. It's an amazing organization to volunteer for!

La Casa is a wonderful organization! They help thousands of victims and their children every year, and engage the community in an ongoing dialogue about how to help victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

I have voluunteered in the Strike Out Violence event at AT & T Park and believe that that campaign has made a difference along with the signs and billboards naming La Casa de las Madres in bold letters with the 24 hour service information and telephone number-- on public buses, in BART stations. And that campaign has been done in Spanish as well.The outreach in educating many levels of the community is huge, not to mention the shelter services provided in emergency situations.The list of their services goes on. It is a San Francisco resource of huge importance.

La Casa de las Madres provides an amazing range of services, from emergency shelter to ongoing supportive services, that are all completely free of charge. I've never come into contact with an organization that is able to respond to survivors of domestic violence in such a holistic way, treating them as an individual with unique and ongoing needs beyond just shelter. I have shared information about La Casa with numerous colleagues and clients, and will continue to do so. These services are so very critical.

La Casa de Las Madres, not only cares for the population they serve but also very much so for their volunteers. They understand that we are doing this on top of our own jobs and lives and are flexible and accommodating. They also express often their appreciation for the work the volunteers do. A little appreciation goes a long way! It makes me want to serve more! I LOVE working wit La Casa and look forward to a long relationship with them! Thank you!

I began volunteer training with La Casa de Las Madres in the fall of 2012, and the 40 hours of training was extremely empowering, informative, and heartbreaking. It really exposed me to all of the dimensions of domestic violence, and how best to discuss issues with victims, and treat all victims with respect and support. Since beginning volunteering with La Casa, I have worked on the Crisis Line, Emergency Shelter, in addition to Teen and general outreach into the community. The program is run by some amazing women, and I have never felt out of place. The many options provided by La Casa is amazing, and I am so proud to be a part of this organization. It has made me more aware of advocacy, and helped to shape the degree I am pursuing at University.

Being a proud domestic violence survivor, it feels great to come full circle and give back through La Casa de las Madres! La Casa de las Madres offer a great 40 hour training & the staff really educate & prepare you for your volunteer work. But most of all, it's great that you can volunteer through them in different areas. I find great joy & satisfaction to be able to do crisis lines, office help, direct services at our shelter and/or outreach in the community. Reaching women over the phone, assisting them in person at the shelter & educating the community of our presence, services and about domestic violence is the greatest combination of volunteer work that I've ever experienced since 2010 til today. Myself, the community and victims of domestic violence who need help are beyond blessed to have a La Casa de las Madres doing the work they do!

La Casa de las Madres is a caring, genuine organization that always puts the needs of domestic violence survivors and their children first. They're always at the forefront of the fight to empower women and also take into consideration the needs and interests of their employees and volunteers. I absolutely LOVE contributing my time to this group of dynamic people and wouldn't hesitate to represent them and their cause.

La Casa de Las Madres is an innovative forward thinking empowerment based organization that is deeply committed to providing compassionate, people led support and advocacy while at the same time working to create long term social change in san francisco. La Casa strives to be flexible, open to change and without compromise committed to ending violence against women and girls.

I worked at La Casa a couple of years ago as a legal services coordinator. I am no longer affiliated with/employed by them, but I want to confirm that this is a life-changing, progressive organization. La Casa offers a spectrum of resources for women and children who are trying to leave or recover from domestic violence situations. It is a lifesaver for many women, who need more than a place to stay - it offers legal help, referrals to trauma and other mental health services, support groups, a teen program, and much more.

La Casa is an amazing and inspiring organization. The number of women and teens that have been helped by them over the past 35 years is enormous. I'm proud to be involved in an organization that is so successful in meeting its mission and being such a strong presence in our SF community.

I am a physician and I have been using La Casa as a resource for families in SF for 20 years. The organization is well run, consistently provides 24/7 resources to families in crisis with counseling and emergency shelter. The organization also approaches domestic violence by training police who are the first responders, helping women to advocate for themselves in court, and providing counseling for women and children, utilizing child specialists from San Francisco General Hosptial, as well as long term transitional housing to help families get back on their feet.

They are a longstanding organization and have garnered great respect from the local community. la Casa is indispenible to our community.

I've been a volunteer at La Casa de las Madres for many years and am still today. La Casa is an exceptionally well managed non-profit with great employees and I am happy to do volunteer work there. I am especially happy to know my work helps them save money and that they will redirect it to helping others in need of their very special services.

La Casa rocks!!

I am presently a volunteer for La Casa de Las Madres. My experience has been great. Since the first time I visited La Casa de Las Madres, I felt welcomed and comfortable. Everyone that works there seems to be dedicated to the mission of supporting and empowering the women and children that need help with domestic violence issues. All the staff is very caring and actively working all the time to accomplish their mission in the community. I am fortunate to have been able to give some of my time to this organization.

I've volunteered for La Casa on several occasions. This is something that gives me great joy to know I'm making a difference for the women and children at La Casa. We've done a Walk-On to raise funds and open a Bright Space for the children and women that live onsite, I've volunteered at the Giants Game in SF to raise funds and awareness for La Casa and on their fundraiser events. This organization is so dedicated to help women that are in crisis.

My company voluiteers every holiday season.
I found this esecially rewarding.
We were so impressed we also took up donations for thier gift drive.

I volunteered with La Casa de Las Madres for an event and it was an amazing experience! This organization is truly dedicated to empowering women in the community of San Francisco and building a better foundation of charity and service to those who truly need it. I feel like they have a very positive reputation in this city because they are truly dedicated to their mission. This is a wonderful and inspirational organization!

I have volunteered for La Casa twice - Once, to assist with a resume writing work shop and the second time for their adopt-a-family program. I found the women involved in La Casa were strong, smart, independent women who made the most of every opportunity provided them. They were also a lot of fun to be around! Both experiences have been very rewarding for me and I plan to volunteer again!

Every year, the agency that I work for eagerly anticipates the holiday season when we adopt families from La Casa de Las Madres. We love being able to help out the staff at La Casa during this important time of the year by providing gifts to families in transistion. It is evident to us that the staff at La Casa care about the clients. La Casa staff make sure that we have all the information we need to purchase individualized gifts for every person we adopt. It's a win-win-win situation. Thank you La Casa for being there for your clients and for giving my agency a way to help the community.

I love La Casa de las Madres. They provide amazing support to women and families in need - especially those fleeing domestic violence.

Every year around the holidays, I 'adopt' a family or two and provide holiday presents to them, because no child anywhere in SF should go without presents on Christmas morning. When I drop my presents off at La Casa to be delivered to the families, the staff are always so thrilled and appreciative of this small effort I make. The reality is I am so thrilled and appreciative of the amazing things they do for these families. They're incredible.